March heats up in Coeur d'Alene

Wednesday's high of 72 degrees broke a 65-year-old record in Coeur d'Alene. The previous record high for March 26 was 70 degrees set in 1960.

"The oddball part is we had a record-low high on Sunday of only 41 degrees," said climatologist Cliff Harris.

While Tuesday's high was 68 degrees, Harris said don't get used to sunny, blue skies. He expects it to dip back to the 30s overnight this weekend, with a chance of rain and maybe snow as March goes out and April comes in.

"A tad of snow, not a lot," Harris said.

The highs for next week are expected to be in the 40s.

"That's pretty cool for April," Harris said.

He said Coeur d'Alene has received 36.1 inches of snow this season, a little more than half of the normal snowfall of 68.9 inches.

Only 4 inches of snow fell in March, well under the normal of 6.7. It snowed about 4 inches in the Spirit Lake area.

"If not for February, every month would have been below normal," Harris said.

Despite the coming cold spell, Harris said the temperature gauge should change course soon. He said the area could see its first 90-degree day in early to mid-May.

"It's a strange pattern, to say the least," he said.